For relatives, [to] ensure peace [and to] deliver deceased ones, all must not not know [this].

[Note: The above perspectives on reciting of sūtras, prostration with repentance prayers, and conducting of the Water And Land Dharma Assembly are generally true for many of their ‘participants’ who do not understand them much, thus only half-heartedly ‘participating’ in them. This is while learned and experienced practitioners can still practise them efficiently.

Even so, mindfulness of Buddha is definitely the easiest and most skilful means for guiding all kinds of participants to practise together, including the sick, dying and deceased, for the direct and best results. Blessings can be created to aid recovery, and the Three Provisions of Faith, Aspiration and Practice to reach Pure Land can be expressed.

Synergising many factors of practice at once, it can create meritorious virtues, express repentance with reverence, and offer guidance, encompassing all the benefits of the above practices. Even the most elaborate Water And Land Dharma Assembly ultimately aims to deliver all beings to Pure Land, which guided mindfulness of Buddha already does.

These reasons and more are why Great Master Yìnguāng taught as he did. As he wrote in ‘One Letter [As A] Common Reply’《一函遍复》, ‘[It] must [be] known [that when] conducting Buddhist ceremonies [for delivering the deceased], only [the] meritorious virtues [from] mindfulness [of] Buddha [are the] most great.’ (须知做佛事，唯念佛功德最大。)]